Introduction:

RaviRavi (literally means "something you can lean on"). It is a fairly large village with about 300
inhabitants and 60 houses. The villagers moved from Nakarovu Village about 200 years ago -
moving to escape cannibals on the island. The village lies close to the Beqa
Lagoon Resort (diving) on the coast of Beqa Island facing (see map) the main island of
Viti Levu. It lies a short and
easy walk from the Beqa Lagoon Resort. RaviRavi is a prosperous village in Fijian
terms. Visitors to RaviRavi can expect to sleep on a proper bed. Your
hosts are a prominent family, Marika and his wife live in a house not far from
the beach. Marika also owns a boat and collects his guests
from Navua Town.

RaviRavi's largest building is the Methodist
church and the community hall. The churches are very active among this devout
community. The community's primary school, which you are welcome to visit, is
situated nearby at the village of Ravu Ravu about three kilometres away.
Mobile phones work in the village, nearest Internet Beqa Lagoon
Resort.

RaviRavi is also the traditional village located near the direct descendants
of Fiji's famed fire walkers. There is a fabulous
fable behind the
ability of the Sawau tribe, located at Navakaisese, to walk on fire

Image right: Members of the Sawau
tribe on Beqa Island walk across the hot stones.

Water and Electricity:

Most of the houses in RaviRavi have flush toilets, showers and beds. Water
is tapped directly from Beqa Island and is purer than the water you find
bottled in stores.

There is a reliable source
of electricity in RaviRavi with is supplied by Marika's generator.

Fijian villagers are very healthy and believe that cleanliness is next to
Godliness.

Flush toilet & shower

TV with Fiji One

Bedroom

Clothing:

It is important to note that Fijian villagers are offended by bikinis or
scant clothing worn in the village area - be safe and wear clothing that
covers the knees and shoulders. Do NOT wear hats in the village.

Image right: there is a small sandy beach near the village

However, if you go to the beautiful secluded beaches nearby treat it like
any other - and get a great suntan in a bikini!

Telephones:

There are no landline telephones in RaviRavi but the neighbouring resort of Beqa Lagoon
has phones and the Internet. Mobiles do work from the village.

Couples:

You will enjoy the most incredible and memorable holiday adventures whether
walking along the secluded beaches, or exploring inland.
At RaviRavi you will, from the moment you step
into the village, be accepted into the community. You will, in true Fiji-time,
be able to participate in traditional ceremonies, like Kava drinking in the
"vale ni so qo" (or large community hall), dancing and singing as
well as swimming in the sea, snorkeling on the Coral reef, exploring the
beaches or relaxing.

Image right: The village elders enjoying the sevusevu

Alternatively you can visit the nearby Beqa Lagoon Resort for dinner
or to go diving - just a short walk away but with daily rates equating to
food and accommodation at RaviRavi for up to a week!

It
is important to note that the "man is boss" in the traditional Fijian
community so you will find the village women doing all the household work,
cooking, etc. Tourists to the village are welcome to participate in the kitchen,
washing etc... but this is entirely optional although you will enjoy chatting
to the women about their experiences at RaviRavi.

Image right: Calisa and her niece in the kitchen

All food, washing etc.. is done for you by the women in the village - and
these costs are included in the cost of
accommodation. You might also enjoy joining the men either to watch
or participate in their traditional farming practices along the lands bordering
the road where they cultivate taro (a potato-like vegetable), Kava and a
form of giant asparagus known as Dromo-Dromo. Once again you are not expected
to do anything but relax and do what you wish, but for those who want to
take a step back in time this is an unforgettable experience well worth
considering.

In the images below you can see how the women make the lovely and effective
mats that you find in most Fijian houses. These pictures were taken in and
aroun RaviRavi village. (You are welcome to join the Fijian women and learn
how to make their traditional mats).

The plant from which mat making
material is obtained

The leaves cut and ready for
drying

Leaves drying before they are
made into mats

Children:

If
you have children this will be a holiday and experience of a lifetime as
they are immediately welcomed into the fold by Fijian kids of all ages -
over 100 of them! The "village green" which separates two rows of
houses at RaviRavi is perfect for a game of cricket, soccer, rugby or other
ball games that the Fijian kids just love playing. (Bring a small rugby
ball with you and your kids will be kept occupied for your entire stay! Simple
things like balloons and sweets are a firm favourite.)

Image right: Calisa's grand children play in her house

Children might also like to spend some time joining the Fijian children in
their classrooms to see how Fijian teachers go about their work - again this
is totally optional - one thing for sure there is
no shortage of activities for the family!

While the local RaviRavi Fijian dialect may be spoken by villagers they all
speak English. (Fijian translation of common greetings
can be seen at this link).

Backpackers:

RaviRavi is the ultimate backpacker adventure. You are in a safe environment,
welcomed into a friendly community from the moment you arrive but have a
natural playground - from beach to walks inland. The village is just 5 minutes
walk from the Beqa Lagoon Resort.

The traditional welcoming process:

When you arrive at RaviRavi there is a very simple traditional ceremony that
you can participate in. When the villagers gather in their community hall
they welcome guests at a Kava ceremony. An elder from the village will welcome
you and the man or male spokesman for your group, at this time, is expected
to
make a short speech and provide a small gift to the
village (such as 1kg of powdered Kava - which cost about F$20 or US$10).
Once these formalities are over your host Aiske will keep you informed of
future Kava celebrations, entertainment or other activities taking place
during your stay. (A big wooden drum is often beaten to alert villagers
of celebrations, church services and other community activities).

Image right: The men of the village play touch rugby
as the sun sets over one of the world's finest playgrounds

Sport:

Rugby Union is the village sport. It is played by the men in the village
every evening 365 days a year and by the children every morning as the sun
rises.

The Beqa Bus:

The quirky nature of the village is epitomised by the famous Beqa Bus (actually
a wheel barrow).

When you arrive at the jetty at RaviRavi you will see the "Bus Stop" sign hammered
into a coconut tree. The wheel barrows are used to cart everything and anything
from point to point in RaviRavi via som very good cement paths that lead
past every home in the village.

Two Beqa buses

The main intersection in the
village

The RaviRavi bus
stop

Payments:

Payments
will be organised directly with Aisake on your arrival at RaviRavi. Please
do not tender credit cards to the village as they do not have those sort
of banking facilities - cash is king. There are plenty of ATM machines
on Viti Levu on the way to RaviRavi
- they can be found at Nadi, Sigatoka, Pacific Harbour and Suva. (Simon,
who can collect you, in his taxi will help
you here).

Image right: RaviRavi village is
just a few minutes walk from Beqa Lagoon Resort and deep sea
diving

Gifts and Village Funds:

If you are thinking of bringing gifts consider bringing practical things
like books, notepads, pencils, rubbers and sharpeners that can be used in
the school. If you have children consider bringing a gift of a rugby ball,
tennis balls, cricket gear, balloons etc for the village... a great ice breaker
and your kids will have a great time. This option is entirely up to you
and is not expected.

There is also a village fund which has been set up at the request of past
guests. The village fund is contributed to by guests, but it is important
to know that donations are voluntary and you are NOT expected to donate to
the funds. The funds are administered by the village mataqali (or elders)
without any outside influence.

The two village funds are:

a building fund
which is used in identified projects that help the entire community; and

micro-financing - a fund which is used to finance small enterprises that individuals or
groups of villagers in each village want to set up. The money is loaned
interest free and with no strings attached. The recipient is morally bound to
return the money once he has started earning an income from his enterprise so
that the money can be used again to help someone else in the village.

There will be a poster in your guest room in the village which tells you
more about the village funds, alternatively you can discuss them with your
host.